Watch band connector



Jan. 19, 1965 H. E. GWINNER ETAL 3,165,884

WATCH BAND CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1962 INVENTORS HA/ys 5. GA/x/wce BY 'Foaa r Nessa/veg Array/v6) Jan. 19, 1965 H. E. GWINNER ETAL 3,165,884

WATCH BAND CONNECTOR 2 sheat s-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1962' y W T- m me Wwo r A F r a H m 1 3,165,334 I WATCH BANn coNNscron Hans E. Gwiriner, Cranston, and Robert Moessuer, Warwiclr, RL, assiguors to Bulova Watch Company, Eric, New York, Nil K, a corporation of New Your Filed Nov. 14, 1962, Ser, No. 237,653 4 Claims; (Cl. 58-88) This invention relates generally to connectors for coupling the ends of a wrist band to a watch casing, and more particularly to releasable snap-on connectors adapted to harmonize the casing with a variety of replaceable bands and yet afford a'custom-crafted appearance.

In many watches of conventional design, the casing includes a pair of spaced lugs at eitherendthereof. to which the wrist band or bracelet is connectible; This connection ismade by means of spring pins which passbetween the lugs, and the end of the band is free to slide back and forth, It is not possible to use a broader band unless the lugs are first filed to accommodate'the band,

and as a practical matter this isnot feasible.

in more expensive watch constructions, the design trend has been away from lugs, and it is now the practice in some instances to provide a bracelet whose ends are permanently attached to the watch casing. Such custoin crafted watch bracelets are highly attractive. However, this design precludes ready replacement, and it is not possible for the wearer to substitute a new or dilferent bracelet or strap for the existing band.

A watch is an important piece of jewelry whose appearance in large measure is dependent on the wrist band. The appeal of a watch residesnot only in the beauty of the casing and that of the wrist band, but also in the harmony between bland and casing, for a mismatch therebetween will mar the net impression. The dictates of fashion are such that while a highly ornamental band may be appropriate for one occasion, afmore austere design may be called for in other instances. 1

A choice of bands is not possible with customrcrafted attachments, and while with lug arrangements the band may be replaced, the manipulationof the spring pinsrequires a fair degree of slrill, and replacement cannot be casually made. Moreover, the external ears or lugs are always visible, and are not concealed, hence this acts .as a limitation on the casing clesign'possibilities and also malres it difiicult to harmonize the casings with more than one band.

in View of the foregoing, it is the principal ohgiect of vide a snap-on connector constituted by a latching tonguewhichv is ar'l'lxed to the watch casing, and a contoured mouthpiece which is attachable to anend of the wrist band, the tongue being insertible in the mouthpiece [2611-1 gage releasable latching means therein, whereby the tongue is'concealed and the mouthpiece lies against the casing and appears to be integral therewith. 1 1 v A significant feature of one preferred.embodimentrof the invention is that the latching dogs maybe readily United States Patent 3,l5,$84 Patented Jan. '1 9., 1965 a i r released by the wearer by a slight pressure against tabs extending therefrom through the bottom panel of the mouthpiece, whereby the band may be quickly replaced by another band of dilferen't design but having the same mouthpiece attachments.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide connectors of the above-described type, which are adapted to couple bands of different width to the same watch casing.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide connectors of simple and durableconstruction, which are convenient to operate, and yet afford a reliable and positive coupling.

Briefly stated, these objects are accomplished by a connector including a tongue attached to either end of the other objects and further features thereof, reference is' made to the following detailed description to be readinconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like components in the several views are identified by like reference numerals.-

in the drawings,

FIG. 1 is aperspective View of a watch casing and a wrist band provided with one preferred embodiment of connectors in accordance with the invention;

PEG. 2 is an enlarged section taken through one con nector and showing the tongue with the mouthpieceinserted therein;

P16; 3 shows the back of the mouthpieceand the re: lease tabs projecting therefrom;

FIG. 4 is the same as FIG. 2, except that the tongue is' shown in its disengaged position;

' FIG. 5 is an end view looking into the mouthpiece;

FIG. 6 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the invention in back view with the rear panel of the mouthpiece removed; FIG. 7 separately shows the rear panel; and 7 FIG. 8 is still another embodiment of a connec Q With the rear panel of the mouthpiece removed. i

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 5, there is shown a conventional watch'casing ill of circular design, and a wrist band in the form of a pair of linked bracelet sections 11 and 11A. adapted to encircle the wrist of the wearer and provided with a releasable clasp or lock. The lock or clasp may be of any known design, and is constituted by interconnecting ole-- ments 13 and 14 attached to the free ends of the bracelet sections. Y

Casing 1t is'provided with an annular bezel 15; -Weld ed or otherwise secured to opposing ends thereof are a pair of metal latching tongues 16 and 16A. Each tongue The tongues are receivable within mouthpieces I? and.

17A pivotally attached tothe ends of'bracelet sections 11 and 11A, respectively, by means of suitablepins 18 and 13A. The mouthpieces are each constituted by a wedgeshaped shell having a rectangular cross-section,-tlie mouth opening or lip 19 being contoured to contormfio-the curvatur'e of the watch casing. The shell is formed'b y frame Ell, having front and rear panels 21 an d'ZZl. Y

It is'to be understood that while a circular casing has been shown and a correspondingly contoured lip' for the mouthpiecafor other casing types, matching lip contours are provided, whereby when the-tongucis inserted in the mouthpiece the lips of the latter engage the periphery of the casing, thereby fully concealing the tongue and cansing the mouthpiece to appear as an integral extension of the casing. For this purpose, the mouthpiecemay be fabricated of the same metal as the casing or atleast of the same surface finish; On the other hand, since the mouthpiece appears integral. with the casing, contrasting metals may be used to introduce decorative variations without disturbin the harmony of the coupling.

Pivotally supported within the mouthpiece are a pair of L-shaped latching dogs L and L the legs l and 1 of the dogs being mounted on a pivot pin 23 adjacent the lower end of the mouthpiece. Formed at the ends of the dogs are pawl members P and P adapted to engage the detents D and D when the tongue is inserted in the mouthpiece. V

The dogs are biased by means of a spring 24 coiled about pivot pin 23 and having outstretched arms 24A and 2.43 which abut the legs of the dogs and urge the dogs inwardly. When the tongue is inserted, the dogs are forced apart to admit the detents which are caught by the pawl members P and P and held by the inwardly directed spring action, thereby effecting the desired connection. When the connection is made, the bow spring Son the tongue abuts the legs l and 1 of the dogs and is subjected to tension, to prevent free play or backlash. The tensioned spring S also serves to resist outward displacement of the dogs and thereby aids the action of spring 24 to maintain the connection.

The dogs are provided with tabs T and T which project through apertures 22a and 22b in the back panel 22 tabs. Thus to release the dogs, the tabs are pushed outwardly to unlatch the detents.

In order to harmonize the watch casing with the band, the taper of the wedge-shaped mouthpiece is such that the width of the mouthpiece base is appropriate to the width of the bracelet. Thus for a broader bracelet than thatlshown, the base would be wider to effect a better match. 7 p

It will be appreciated that the same watch casing may be accompanied by a variety of bracelets, each having connectors adapted to latch the bracelet onto the tongues by a simple snap-on action.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown another version of the connector, the tongue in this instance being constituted by a pair of spaced detent elements 25A and 25B aflixed to the bezel 26 of the watch casing. The mouthpiece shell which includes a frame 27 and a front plate 28, is generally similar to that shown in the previous figures and has a lip contour adapted to conform to the curvature of the bezel.

Centrally mounted on the front plate 2?; is a block 29 which serves to support a yoke-shaped spring 3d formed from flat stock, the spring having a pair of resilient latching hooks 30A and 30B adapted to engage the detents 25A. and 25B when the tongue is fully inserted in the mouthpiece.

I In order to effect disengagement of the hooks, the back plate 31 of the mouthpiece, shown separately in FIG. 7, is provided with openings 31A and 31B giving access to the hooks 30A and 30B, respectively, whereby the hooks may be released by means of tweezers or similar means inserted in the openings.

The bracelet 32 is coupled to the mouthpiece by means of a pin 33 passing through a tube 34 afiixed to the end of the bracelet. v

, In FIG. 8, the arrangement shown is similar to that in FIGS. 6 and 7, except that in place of the yoke-shaped spring providing hooks to engage the detents 25A and "apertures is dimpled to facilitate manipulation of the 25B, there is'provided a pair of spring-biased locking the tongue is fully inserted in the mouthpiece: To release the bars,,tabs 38A and 38B aii'ixed thereto project through apertures in the back panel (not shown) of the mouth piece, which tabs may readily be manipulated to eiiec disengagement of the bar and detent.

While there have been shown what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the essential concepts of the invention as inwardly-biased pivoted dogs formed by oppositely dis- 1 posed L-shaped elements which are separated when said tongue is introduced therein to engage said detents, said dogs having pawl members to catch said detents when said tongue is inserted in said mouthpiece and having leg portions which are engaged by said how to subject said dogs to tension to prevent free play thereof, said mouthpiece having a lip conforming to the contours of said casing.

2. A connector assembly for coupling the ends of a wrist band to a watch casing provided with an annular bezel, said connector comprising a pair of tongues affixed to opposing ends of said bezel, each tongue in-' cluding a pair of spaced detents and a forwardly projecting spring bow extending between said detents, and a hollow mouthpiece into which each tongue is insertable, said mouthpiece including a lip contoured to engage the surface of said bezel when said tongue is inserted therein, a pair of inwardly-biased dogs formed of op positely disposed L-shaped elements having leg portions pivotally mounted on a pin within said mouthpiece, said dogs having pawl members to catch. said detents when said tongue is inserted, said how engaging said leg portions to apply tension to said dogs preventing free play thereof, tabs afiixed to said dogs and extending through apertures in the wall of said mouthpiece to permit release of said dogs, and means coupling said mouthpiece to an end of a wrist band.

3. A connector assembly for coupling the ends of a wrist band to a watch casing provided with an annular bezel, said connector comprising a pair of tongues affixed to opposing ends of said bezel, each tongue including a pair of detents symmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal axes thereof, and a forwardly projecting spring bow extending between said detents, and a hollow mouthpiece into which each tongue is insertable, said mouthpiece including a lip contoured to engage the surface of said bezel when said tongue is inserted therein, a pair of dogs formed of oppositely dis- .posed L-shaped elements having leg portions pivotally mounted on a pin within said mouthpiece and symmetrically arranged relative to said detents, a spring coiled about said pins and provided with outstretched arms engaging said legportions to urge said dogs inwardly, said dogs having pawl members to catch said detents when said tongue is inserted, said how engaging said leg portions to apply tension to said dogs preventing free play thereof, tabs connected to said dogs and extending through apertures in the wall of said mouthpiece to permit release of said dogs whereby said how ejects said tongue, and means coupling said mouthpiece to an end of a wrist band;

4. A connector assembly for coupling the ends of a wrist band to a watch casing provided with an annular bezel, said connector comprising arpair of tongues af-,

fixed to opposing ends of said bezel, each tongue includ- I said leg portions to urge said dogs inwardly, said dogs ing a pair of detents symmetrically arranged with respect 1 surface of said bezel when said tongue is inserted therein whereby said mouthpiece is conformed to said bezel,

a pair of dogs having leg portions pivotally mounted on a pin within said mouthpiece and symmetrically ars'aid pins and provided with outstretched arms engaging [10 ranged relative to said detents, a spring coiled about" having pawl members to catch said detents when said tongue is inserted, said bow engaging the leg portions of the dogs" to apply tension thereto preventing free play or the dogs, tabs connected to said dogs and extending through apertures in the back panel of said moutl'lpiece to permit release of said dogs, and means coupling said 7 imouthpiece to an end of the wrist band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,382,256 rTomchin June 21, 1921 

1. A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR COUPLING THE ENDS OF A WRIST BRACELET TO A WATCH CASING, COMPRISING A PAIR OF TONGUES ATTACHED TO OPPOSING ENDS OF THE CASING, AND A PAIR OF MOUTHPIECES ATTACHED TO THE ENDS OF SAID BRACELET, EACH TONGUE BEING RECEIVABLE WITHIN ONE OF SAID MOUTHPIECES AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED DETENTS AND A FORWARDLY PROJECTING SPRING BOW EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID DETENTS, EACH MOUTHPIECE BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF INWARDLY-BIASED PIVOTED DOGS FORMED BY OPPOSITELY DISPOSED L-SHAPED ELEMENTS WHICH ARE SEPARATED WHEN SAID TONGUE IS INTRODUCED THEREIN TO ENGAGE SAID DETENTS, SAID DOGS HAVING PAWL MEMBERS TO CATCH SAID DETENTS WHEN SAID TONGUE IS INSERTED IN SAID MOUTHPIECE AND HAVING LEG PORTIONS WHICH ARE ENGAGED BY SAID BOW TO SUBJECT SAID DOGS TO TENSION TO PREVENT FREE PLAY THEREOF, SAID MOUTHPIECE HAVING A LIP CONFORMING TO THE CONTOURS OF SAID CASING. 